When I learn it, I'm going to come back here and speak freely on the subject.

In which case you will be breaking your samaya.

No, because I was thinking more along the lines of "I could have learned that from a DVD no problem." etc.

Pero wrote:

I have the Breathe DVD, by the way. It does not explain kumbhaka. It also seems to be quite a long routine, very slow and gentle. Not something I can see myself ever doing.

There is also a short routine (20 minutes I think). But if you can't dedicate at least this much daily then perhaps better you forget about kumbhaka.

Listen, Mr. Man, I have already passed up several opportunities to learn kumbhaka. The fact is, if I was going to dedicate a block of time to something, it would be something that interests me. Kumbhaka interests me more than the Breathe video. The Five Tibetan Rites interests me more than the Breathe video and that's probably not even Tibetan, I guess (seems to be some controversy about it, anyway. But, I've done it before and I know it works wonders, keeps people healthy, young, vibrant, flexible, etc.).

There is no kumbaka without undertanding and proficiency in the at least 8 movements and first group of yantra since these are the elements one needs to develop those parts of the body needed and used so much in khumbaka.

In other words khumbaka cannot be established without getting your body well prepared beforehand.

"Bow down to me for I thirst for an infinite ocean of blood, since the innumerable torrents of floods at kalpa's end that terrify all world systems do not even wet the tip of my tongue"

alpha wrote:There is no kumbaka without undertanding and proficiency in the at least 8 movements and first group of yantra since these are the elements one needs to develop those parts of the body needed and used so much in khumbaka.

In other words khumbaka cannot be established without getting your body well prepared beforehand.

Exactly! From my little experience I know that often people have strange ideas about what it is khumbaka or what it is not...

"My view is as vast as the sky, but my actions are finer than flour" ~ Padmasambhava ~

Hey Alpha, Are you a long time practitioner of Yantra Yoga? If so, would it be ok to ask you some questions?

padma norbu wrote:

Pero wrote:

When I learn it, I'm going to come back here and speak freely on the subject.

In which case you will be breaking your samaya.

There is no kumbaka without undertanding and proficiency in the at least 8 movements and first group of yantra since these are the elements one needs to develop those parts of the body needed and used so much in khumbaka.

In other words khumbaka cannot be established without getting your body well prepared beforehand.

The Yantra Yoga book mentions that it is good to massage the body with alcohol. Does anyone know what type of alcohol is best for this?

And the text mentions that hardwood floors along with a non-spongy Yoga mat or blanket is best for Yantra Yoga; although is it okay to work with circumstances such that we are doing it on carpet (which doesn't seem to have too much padding beneath it) with a wool Yoga blanket?

Lhug-Pa wrote:The Yantra Yoga book mentions that it is good to massage the body with alcohol. Does anyone know what type of alcohol is best for this?

And the text mentions that hardwood floors along with a non-spongy Yoga mat or blanket is best for Yantra Yoga; although is it okay to work with circumstances such that we are doing it on carpet (which doesn't seem to have too much padding beneath it) with a wool Yoga blanket?

I don't know where I heard it, but I remember beer mentioned. Actually, beer mixed with honey.

We are all here to help each other go through this, whatever it is.~Kurt Vonnegut

"To reject practice by saying, 'it is conceptual!' is the path of fools. A tendency of the inexperienced and something to be avoided."- Longchenpa

"Even though you have recognized your essence, if you do not get accustomed to it,You will be carried away by the enemy of thoughts, like a small child in a battle field.So long as you are not free from the limitations of accepting and rejecting,That long will you not recognize the view of the innermost secret heart-essence."

After attending last night's webcast I think it's safe to say that the open, directed, closed, contracted, etc. holds (i.e. the basic holds of Yantra Yoga) and the basic Kumbhaka explained on the non-restricted Yantra Yoga DVD's are the only ones that should be done without qualified in-person instruction. Without the latter said instruction, all the other more elaborate Pranayamas explained in the Yantra Yoga book (even though it is not restricted) such as constricting the glottis, bringing the winds into the central channel, etc. should not be done at all huh.

In fact, YogaDude, the next webcast will start next week on wednesday - and it'll be a very interesting one, if I might add, since AFAIK, Rinpoche didn't do a special retreat on the SoV in quite a long time.

On second thought, the rough or indirect breathing (constricting of the glottis) should be pretty easy to get the hang of, at least as applied to the Pranayama of the preliminary Tsadul and the Pranayama of the First Series of Yantras (The Four Characteristic Conditions). So these two said Pranayamas, and The Four Profound Applications (insofar as it is explained on the non-restricted Yantra Yoga DVD's that is) of the Second Series, and maybe even the Third Series Pranayama, should be okay to apply without in-person instruction.

The Fourth Series and Fifth Series Pranayamas however, I don't think I'd try without precise instructions from a qualified instructor.